Oliwa i Ogień, Wroclaw – Poland

Oliwa i Ogień (Olive and Fire) is the concept of combining two townhouses with an inner courtyard, from which the whole project started. The design intent was to preserve as much as possible the old courtyard with its characteristic white clinker bricks, renovate it to set up the entire kitchen here. The design of the technology is based on an island layout, around which all the magic of communication and gluten takes place, and above which, in the center of the former courtyard, a huge copper hood has been hung, which is the dominant element of the whole place.The whole sequence of technological work has been moved inside the walls of the townhouses, so as to leave space for seating around a transparent and open interior layout. In this way, the true heart of the project was achieved: a lively, open kitchen in the old courtyard of prewar Wroclaw townhouses.On the side of the pedestrian Oławska Street were placed two olive trees in large windows, arrived directly from Italy. A round communal table is designed around them, perfect for conversations in larger groups.Right from the entrance, we are greeted by a huge bookcase that serves as the bar’s backroom and warehouse. It is here that countless quantities of Aperol, Limoncello, kegs of Prosecco and refrigerated cabinets for wines, lemons and oranges are stored. Everything constantly on hand and under the watchful eye of the bartender, without having to run to the backroom. The warehouse is so large that a special piggyback staircase has been designed to reach the highest shelves, which also house fresh herb stocks and utensils that investors have collected during their constant travels through Italian cities and concepts.On the other side of the street, the entrance for deliveries, employees, and preparation rooms for pizza and pasta dough were located, along with storage and central refrigeration. The height of the premises made it possible to cover part of the backroom with a mezzanine, accessible from the main hall of the building from Oławska Street. An additional toilet node was placed on the mezzanine, and all the window recesses of the former building were used to create intimate seating areas that overlook the rest of the concept.The mezzanine ends with a small enclosed room overlooking Dominikanska Square, ideal for shared events with a larger group of friends.Olive and Fire is such a sincere concept: the quality of the products used, the beautiful kitchen process, and the selected Italian charcuterie are what the design choices wanted to highlight.